David Price rejoined the Los Angeles Dodgers for the 2021 season following a decision opt out of playing the previous year due to concerns related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Although he spent most of 2022 in a hybrid role between the rotation and bullpen, his results were a mixed bag. In 39 games (11 starts), Price went 5-2 with a 4.03 ERA, 4.23 FIP and 1.43 WHIP.
He was left off the Dodgers’ Wild Card Game roster but returned for the National League Division Series and NL Championship Series. Price didn’t make his Spring Training debut in 2022 until Wednesday night, throwing a scoreless inning and notching two strikeouts while displaying some very positive results with offspeed pitches and touching 93 mph with his fastball.
Part of the delay with Price appearing in a Cactus League game was the customary elbow soreness he battles each Spring Training, via Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
“That’s going back all the way to 2011,” Price said. “I’ve gotten through that period, and now everything feels good — arm, elbow, shoulder.”
Price said the spring pain is “always the elbow — never shoulder or anything else. It’s always the elbow.”
“It’s right after that first live BP,” he said. “I think once you get a hitter in the box, or at least for me, even if they’re on your team, it takes you to a place you can’t really get to in a bullpen or if you’re throwing in your backyard.”
Price could find himself in a position where once his workload is built up, he could have a real shot to log innings as a starter, given the volatility of Andrew Heaney at the backend of the rotation.
Regardless, if Price shows over the next few weeks he is healthy and is able to avoid time on the injured list, that would allow him to be a valuable multi-inning arm for Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.
Price wants to ‘earn’ spot in rotation
Now as Price enters the final year of his contract, he has higher expectations for himself and hopes to earn a permanent spot in the starting rotation.
Price was rusty at times last season as a result of his one-year hiatus and it led to inconsistent results on the mound.
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